Walk the Moon

Walk the Moon

Walk the Moon - Average, Based on 4 Critics

AllMusic - 80Based on rating 8/10

80

The eponymous sophomore outing from melodious, heavily carbonated, Cincinnati-based dance-pop quartet Walk the Moon occupies the same neon-splashed, hyper-literate head space as high-energy bands like Phoenix, Passion Pit, and Foster the People. Led by frontman Nicholas Petricca, who can go from a nervous David Byrne wail to a glassy 90125-era Jon Anderson falsetto in a matter of seconds, the band’s slick blend of classic new wave, tech-savvy dance rock, and mathy indie pop can be jarring upon first listen, but multiple spins reveal an impressively tight unit that understands the thin line between immaculately rendered electro-art pop cacophony and hook-friendly modern rock. Produced by Ben H.

A year after their galloping indie anthem ”Anna Sun” went into rotation everywhere from retail V-neck purveyors to frat parties, the Cincinnati quartet finally have an album. And they’re not taking any chances — Walk the Moon is stacked with the kinds of poppy hooks and pumped-up choruses you could bring home to Mom. Individually, the songs are strong enough to hold their own, but after 11 tracks in a row, things get pretty samey.

They say to never judge a book by its cover, but this age-old idiom probably didn’t see Ohio-based pop quartet Walk the Moon coming. Then again, neither did the industry — as the band managed to self-release an album, tour extensively, and book appearances at last year’s Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza without label support. Snatched up by RCA and now putting out records proper, we have Walk the Moon.

Call this fresh and carefree, joyful and easy. Or call it unimaginative and samey, boring and repetitive. The most exciting thing about ‘Walk The Moon’ might actually be the psychedelic treehouse cover, which promises sounds the album doesn’t deliver: they’re drifting between The Killers and Two Door Cinema Club in a sea of meaningless tunes with no depth whatsoever.Songs such as ‘Lisa Baby’, ‘Tightrope’ or ‘Fixin” are undefinable, inconsistent wannabe alt-pop.